Receivers with different styles but big impacts

Luke Kopetchny does some of his best work up in the air, using his reach, athleticism and finely tuned receiving skills to wrestle the ball away from opponents or grab it before they can.

To understand Lucas LoPresto’s effectiveness, start lower. Watch the feet, but do so at the risk of getting dizzy.

“I think the lateral part is Lucas’ game, as opposed to the bigger and more physical receivers,” Pittston Area coach Paul Russick said.

Wyoming Area’s Kopetchny and Pittston Area’s LoPresto – figure to be prominent in Friday night’s 61^st meeting of the two rivals. The two junior wide receivers are not only leaders of one-loss teams, but also two of the most dynamic football players in all of District 2.

They don’t stop there. Both make an impact on defense and on special teams. They are also standouts on the basketball court and in track and field.

Russick emphasizes how much he thinks the basketball and track work have helped both.

Kopetchny and LoPresto carry on family traditions, playing similar positions, but with slightly different approaches.

The 6-foot-2 Kopetchny, already an all-state choice in both football and basketball as a sophomore, is a true wide receiver, often as split end. He works the outside of the field brilliantly with a mix of fade patterns and precision execution on comeback routes. Kopetchny has a knack for getting open just past the chains, even when the defense knows that is the goal, but he can also get deep, as his 23.9 yards per catch attest.

“Probably the best way to describe him is that he makes everything look easy,” Wyoming Area coach Randy Spencer said. “His body awareness and the way he can relate to the ball in the air. His movements – he’s one of those guys who’s faster than he appears just because his movement is so fluid.

“He’s really blessed with some special athletic gifts, but he’s also an extremely hard worker in terms of refining and continuing to build and develop on those gifts that he’s been given. When those things show up during the course of the game, most of the time it’s a ‘wow’ moment.”

LoPresto is smaller, listed at 5-10, 170, and will operate from the slot or inside position in multiple receiver sets and also step in as a running back or shotgun quarterback more often than Kopetchny. He works well operating in the tight spaces required by those positions at the snap and is more frequently used as a possession receiver. When he emerges from those tight spots, as he often does, sometimes in spectacular fashion, LoPresto has the breakaway speed that allows him to lead Division 1 in scoring and get to the end zone by six different routes this season.

That skill set works well for LoPresto as a kick returner, where he averages 32 yards and has a touchdown on the only five kickoffs that teams have dared send his way, and 18.7 yards and two touchdowns on punt returns. LoPresto can even score when the other team has the ball, with two stripped fumbles that he turned into his own touchdown returns and another score on an interception return.

“He tackles real well,” Russick said. “He’s got an eye for the ball. He has four forced fumbles; he recovered all four, and two of them went for touchdowns this year.

“That’s almost a part that kind of gets lost because of his receiving and returning ability.”

Skilled athletes from their youngest days, the one-time youth basketball teammates proved that the path to success does not have to include an overload of one sport or one position.

Kopetchny played more quarterback until, while serving as a varsity back-up at that position, a more direct route to immediate playing time was available at receiver. He refined his skills there with help from his father, Ken, an East Stroudsburg University receiving leader, and offensive coordinator Rich Musinski, who put up impressive numbers as a receiver at William & Mary.

“They both work with me on offense, and how much more of an advantage can you get?” Kopetchny said.

LoPresto’s football was limited to the flag variety while spending more time on soccer, fulfilling his mother’s wishes to hold off on tackle football until seventh grade. He now excels on the same football field where his father, Carmen “Homer” LoPresto, rushed for more than 1,000 yards in a season twice, including over 100 yards in the annual game with Wyoming Area.

“This is my favorite sport,” said LoPresto, who calls his last trip to Sobeski Stadium in 2023 the “greatest atmosphere” in which he has ever played. “I didn’t want to quit soccer, but ever since I put on the pads, I’ve loved it.”

Any time “lost” from football has been made up for long ago by the players who have been varsity impact performers from early in their freshman seasons.

Most opposing game plans are heavy on ways to try to stop them, yet Kopetchny and LoPresto still find ways to make major impacts on games.

LoPresto has six multiple-touchdown games and scored on some type of return in five straight games. He even threw a fourth-quarter touchdown pass that allowed Pittston Area to force overtime at Dallas in its most important win of the season.

“It’s some natural – both of my parents are good athletes,” LoPresto said. “I think most of it is the schemes – our coaches, these plays, and we have really good kick return units and really good blocking by everyone.

“I’m nothing without blocking by the O-Line. Everyone does their job and good things happen when everyone does their job.”

Kopetchny’s touchdown reception, one of his eight on the season, started Wyoming Area’s comeback from 13 down in the second half at Dallas.

The two standout receivers play for coaches who are very happy to emphasize power, ball-control ground games when they can. But even if Friday night’s Patriots-Warriors battle moves in that direction, the coaching chess match will include trying not to forget who the game’s most dangerous threats are.

“Our run game can open up things in the passing game,” Kopetchny said. “Our team working well can definitely open it up for me.”

Their teammates are well aware that sometimes a little opening is often all it takes.